at 14:53 on November 27, 2007, EST.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TAMPA, Fla. - Evel Knievel said Tuesday that he and rapper Kanye West have settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked daredevil image in a popular West music video.

Knievel sued West and his record company last year. He took issue with a 2006 music video for the song "Touch the Sky," in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.

West's attorneys argued the video amounted to satire, covered under the First Amendment.

"We settled the lawsuit amicably," Knievel said Tuesday. "I was very satisfied and so was he."

They agreed not to publicly discuss the terms of the settlement, he said. The two had agreed to mediation in July.

In the lawsuit, Knievel claimed the "vulgar and offensive" images depicted in the video damaged his reputation. And he accused the 29-year-old rapper of using the Knievel image to "promote his filth to the world."

Meeting West in person changed his mind about the man.

"I thought he was a wonderful guy and quite a gentleman," Knievel said.

A spokesman for West, Gabriel Tesoriero, confirmed the settlement of the lawsuit in an e-mail Tuesday.

Knievel also expressed concern for West, who is grieving the sudden death of his mother Nov. 10.

"I know he's had some tough times the past few weeks, and I hope things work out," Knievel said.


©The Canadian Press, 2007

I’m glad they were able 2 agree upon a settlement. I'm sure Evel could use the money

touch the sky....did that have filth in that video?







I'm sure they threw o'l Knievel a few thousand.

Rhondab said:

Yes.... Pamela Anderson

banks said:

ohhhhh....so just having her in the vid just makes it nasty on sight huh...


i don't even remember seeing this video

Rhondab said:

I was just joking about Pam... honestly i don't know what Evel was talking about when he said the video was filthy

see the video here

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ldtY9ZbqYs

i would have went to court.


Evel just wanted some money but I'm sure Kanye wasn't in the mood.

banks said:

Evel must not have liked the scene with Kanye, Nia Long and Tracee Ellis Ross

banks said:

so he wasn't into black girls huh?

banks said:

Great answer - and I agree.

as of 16 minutes ago, Evel's granddaughter says he's dead

Yes, it was breaking news, Evel is dead.

Wow this is so sad... Evel just won his lawsuit and now he's gone. Unbelievable

R.I.P. Evel